Peace and Temples

The first day in Mrauk U, I visited some of the temples, which are set among small hillocks for a seven square kilometer area. Among the hills and temples, the villagers live in thatched roof huts and go about their daily business, just as they have for the last couple hundred years (although the bicycles are a more recent addition!) This includes pulling water from wells and transporting via head or shoulder. These young lads carrying out their chores were very friendly. Note the toy that one has fashioned out of an aluminum can, a stick and some string.

In the market, I was approached by a man who identified himself as an English teacher at the local school. I gave him the remainder of the pens and pads I brought from home (having given most to the Adventist teachers in Rangoon to distribute). It’s hard to imagine being so poor that a ballpoint pen is a prized possession but it is the case here! Even though bargaining is expected, I have a hard time negotiating the price for many things (like handicrafts; the boat fare was a different matter since they were trying to charge us 2x the going rate). I know that even $2 USD for me is nothing, and it is a large sum for most people here. I keep reminding myself of the amounts I pay for café lattes or a burrito ($6 at Mozy Café!), and it makes me feel cheap to haggle the price of a $6 antique tribal necklace or an $8 woven hand-woven tapestry.

While Mrauk U is chilly in the evening, in the mid-day sun it has the same heat as Rangoon, and I feel like a well-cooked sausage in my long pants and skirts and t-shirts. I am looking forward to the beach in Thailand, where I can air out my damp body!

On the boat to Mrauk U, I had a long time to chat with my fellow passengers, the French NGO workers. They had been in Burma for 1 ½ years – I was envious! They had lived in Indonesia, and traveled extensively and said that Burma was their favorite place, due mainly to the warmth of the people, something I have heard again and again. They bemoaned the inaccessibility of much of the country, as they had only had a few days off at a time to explore, and that is simply not enough time to get most places (witness the 2 days from Rangoon to Mrauk U). Plus some places are off limits to foreigners. We agreed that the country is incredibly safe and generally free from scams. Men walk through crowds in Rangoon with their wallets tucked into the back of their longyi, without the worry of pickpockets. While things might take longer than predicted, you generally don’t have to worry about someone just taking your money. According to the U.S State Department website, it is the safest country in Southeast Asia.